Why the Elimination Diet is Important

Symptoms and conditions that have failed to respond to conventional medical therapy may resolve when a person follows a diet called the IFM Elimination Diet. Specific foods or foods eaten frequently can be related to a lengthy list of health conditions, including digestive problems, weight gain, headaches, low energy, depression, mood swings, eczema, skin irritations, joint aches, asthma, chronic sinus drainage, and others. People may suffer from these symptoms for long periods of time without realizing that they can be connected to the foods that they are actually consuming. Often it isn’t until a food is removed that the connection between symptoms and foods can be made.The Elimination Diet removes common foods that may be causing symptoms and, with reintroduction, helps patients identify the foods that may be triggering their symptoms.

After the initial period of eliminating foods, many chronic symptoms should improve or disappear. When the burden on the immune system is decreased, the body has an opportunity to heal. During the elimination period, it is important to make sure that the diet is still enjoyable and nutrient-dense.The road to optimum health starts with decreasing the burden on the immune system while ensuring adequate nutrition.

After completion of the three-week Elimination Diet, you should undergo a food reintroduction process.The goal is to expand the variety of healthy foods available to an individual for daily intake. Reintroduction involves adding back one food at a time and observing whether that food is associated with negative symptoms. Foods that continue to provoke symptoms (physical, mental, and emotional) are avoided for an additional three to six months, at which time reintroduction is attempted again. Once the gut is healed, many foods that initially caused sensitivities may be reintroduced into a meal plan without symptoms.

Healing the gut, and being able to successfully reintroduce foods is important, as eating the same few foods day after day does not provide the body with the full array of phytonutrients necessary for overall health. A diet with a large diversity of foods helps ensure that the body gets essential nutrients and is especially important for those who have digestive issues.